South Africa accepts US envoy’s credentials amid moves to thaw ties

Pretoria, South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday received the diplomatic credentials of the new United States ambassador, Brent Bozell, in a formal ceremony that comes amid strained relations between Pretoria and Washington.

Bozell, a right-wing media critic and outspoken supporter of former US President Donald Trump, assumed office in February but has already faced controversy over comments regarding South Africa’s racial policies and judicial decisions.

The brief ceremony was held at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, where Bozell, accompanied by his spouse, was welcomed with a guard of honour before presenting his credentials to President Ramaphosa.

Speaking after the ceremony, the 70-year-old envoy struck a conciliatory tone, praising South Africa and expressing optimism about strengthening bilateral ties.

“Before I arrived here, I cannot tell you how many people told me that in short order, I’d fall in love with the country. It’s only taken two months and I can confirm that has happened,” Bozell said.
“We are two nations with great shared values and interests… It’s my goal in my time here to build on those shared interests, to build on self-respect, to build on our shared values, to take our two nations to places they’ve never been,” he added.

Bozell was among 20 diplomats presenting credentials on the day, including envoys from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Haiti, and Cuba.

In his remarks, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of diplomatic conduct, urging foreign representatives to respect South Africa’s sovereignty and engage through constructive and discreet channels rather than public criticism.

“It is this approach that I believe builds strong relationships between nations and helps to advance the interests of our respective countries based on mutual respect,” the president said.

Fractured relations
Relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated in recent months over several contentious issues. These include South Africa’s genocide case against Israel an ally of Washington and claims by Trump that white Afrikaners are being persecuted, which Pretoria strongly disputes.

Tensions escalated last month when Bozell was summoned by South African authorities to explain what were described as “undiplomatic remarks.” In his first public address, he labelled the apartheid-era chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” as hate speech and criticised policies designed to redress historical inequalities affecting black South Africans.

Despite the controversy, South African courts have ruled that the chant does not constitute hate speech when considered within the historical context of the anti-apartheid struggle that ended in 1994.
Bozell later appeared to soften his stance, stating that the US government respects the independence and rulings of South Africa’s judiciary.

Diplomatic tensions were further heightened last year when Washington expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, following his criticism of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. Pretoria has yet to appoint a replacement.

Meanwhile, the previous US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, stepped down in November 2024, shortly before Trump returned to office.

Despite the strained political climate, economic ties remain significant. South Africa is the United States’ largest trading partner on the African continent, hosting more than 500 American companies and approximately 30,000 US.

TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya.